Two-story knockdown variety doll house



March 13, 1951 HAMMOND ETAL 2,544,833

I'IO-S'IO'RY KNOCKDOWN VARIETY DOLL HOUSE Filed Oct. 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS' i atentecl Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED OFFICE TWO-STORY KNOCKDOWN VARIETY DOLL HOUSE Leni K. Hammond and Richard H. Stout, Winnetka, Ill.

Application October 2, 1946, Serial No. 700,816

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to doll I house of this type which is generally of new and improved construction and is characterized by the fact that it may be produced at a comparatively low cost and when dismantled occupies but a comparatively small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a doll house of the type under consideration which comprises in addition to a gable roof anda pair of triangular gable forming members, a pair of open front rectangular or box-like room forming units which are adapted to be positioned in side by side relation and to form the first story of the house, and a pair of open front rectangular or box-like units which are adapted when the house is properly assembled to overlie and rest on the first story units and form a pair of spaced apart outside second story rooms for the house.

Another object of the invention is to provide a doll house of the last mentioned character in which the four room forming units are so proportioned so far as width and height are concerned that they all may be nested for transpor-- tation or storage purposes while at the same time when the house is in proper assembled relation the ceiling forming walls of the two first story units are coplanar and the ceiling forming walls Another object of the invention is to provide a doll house of the type and character last mentioned in which both of the first story units are the same in height, one of the first story units is of sufiiciently less width than the other first story unit that when it is turned at right anglesto the other unit it may be nested into the latter, one of the second story units is of the same width as the smaller sized first story unit but is of sufficiently less height that by turning it at right angles to the smaller sized first story unit it may be nested into the latter, and the other second story unit is the same in height as the one second story unit but is so proportioned that it may be nested into said other second story unit by turning it at right angles relatively to the latter.

- A further object of the invention is to provide a doll house of the type and character under consideration which comprises in addition to the parts heretofore mentioned a fifth open front rectangular or box-like room forming unit which is adapted-to be interposed and form a room between the two main or primary second story units and is so proportioned that it may be nested into the narrower of the latter units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a doll house of the aforementioned type or character in which the gable roof is formed of four rectangular sections which are hinged together in order that the roof may be folded lengthwise and crosswise into a unit of such size that it may be stored or disposed in one of the room forming units when the house is in dismantled form.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present doll house will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing in assembled form a doll house embodying the invention, a portion of the gable roof being broken away in order to show or illustrate the construction and design of the gable forming members;

.Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the house showing the manner in which the first story and second-story units are arranged in side by side relation when the house is assembled;

Figure 3 is a perspective of one of the gable forming members;

Figure 4 is a front view showing the fifth room forming unit, 1. e., the unit that is adapted to be interposed and form a room between the two main second stor units, nested in the smaller sized main second story unit;

Figure 5 is a front view showing the smaller sized main second story unit with the fifth room forming unit therein turned at right angles to and nested in the larger main second story unit;

Figure 6 is a front view showing the larger sized main second story unit turned at right angles to and nested in the smaller sized first story unit;

Figure '7 is a front view showing the smaller 3 sized first story unit with the second story units therein turned at right angles to and nested in the larger sized first story unit;

Figure 8 is a perspective showing the roof in partially folded form; and

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 7 and illustrating the various component parts of the doll house in their dismantled or nested form.

The doll house which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is essentially of the knockdown type or variety and as its component parts comprise a pair of first story units I D and II, three second story units I2, I3 and I4, a pair of gable forming members I and a gable roof I5, When these parts are properly assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings they form a five room two story gable roof doll house, the r M wh is o in. der t a d lls and pieces of miniature furniture may be inserted into and removed from the various roorns They are formed of any suitable rigid material, such, for example, as plywood or stifi cardboard. Preferably the material of which the various component parts of the house are formed is 4;" or 1% in thickness.

The units In and H are adapted to be assembled in side by side relation and when positioned or assembled in such relation form the first story of the doll house, The I 0 has an open front and defines one room of the house. It is rectangular or box-like. so far as configuration is concerned and consists of a floor forming bottom wall I1, inner and outer upstanding side Wal s I8 and I9, a back wall 20, and a ceilin forming top wall 2|. These walls are suitably secur d t gether along the abutting margins th reof in order that the unit I0 is rigid. The side. and back walls are of the same height in order that the ceiling forming top wall 2[ is disposed'in parallel relation with the floor forming bottom wall 11. The width of the. unity ID i materially greater than the height as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9 and this is essntial'so' far as the house as a whole is concerned. The height. of the unit I0 determines the scale oftheh ouse and may vary. 'It is only essential that the width of the. unit I0 be greater than the height. The unit "II defines the second room of the first story of the house and is the same in depth and height as the unit II). It consists of a floor forming bottom wall 22, inner and outer upstanding sidewalls-23 and 24, an upstanding back wall 25 and a'ceiling forming top Wall 25 and these ha' e the abutting or adjoining margins thereof suitably secured together in order that the unit II is rigid. In assembling the house the u nit I I which has an open front and is of rectangular or box-litre contour is positioned so that the inner side wall 23 'therfe: of is in abutment and registering relation with the inner side wall [8 of the unit I0. When sop oe sitioned the floor forming bottom wall 22 of the unit II lies in the same plane as the'floor form--v ing bottom Wall I'I offthe unit ID and the ceiling forming top wall 26; lies. in the same. planeas the ceiling forming top wall 2.I.."'The overall width of the unit I! is. slightly less than thefinside height of the unit I0 in order that the unit: I I may, after being turned at rightangles withd espect to the unit Ill, be inserted into nested relation with the unitlll, as shown infjig ure '7.

Preferably the unit It is of such Width thatwhen the unit I] is nested into it, as shown in Figure 7,

there is a storage space between the walls 22 and I9 for storing the gable roof I6.

The units I2, I3 and I4 are adapted to be assembled in side by side relation and when positioned or assembled in such relation form the second story of the doll house. The unit I2 has an open front and defines an outside second story room. It is rectangular or box-like so far as configuration is concerned and consists of a floor forming bottom wall 21, inner and outer upstanding side walls 28 and 29, an upstanding back wall 30 and a ceiling forming top wall 3|. These walls are suitably secured together along the abutting margins thereof to the end that the unit I2 is rigid. The side and back Walls 28, 29 and 30 are of the same height in order that the ceiling forming top wall EU is parallel to the floor forming bottom wall 21. The unit I2 is adapted to overlie and rest on the first story unit II and is the same in width as the latter. The overall height of the second story unit I2 is slightly less than the interior or inside width of the. unit II in order that the unit I2 may, after being turned at right angles to the unit ll, be inserted into nested relation with said unit II, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing. The depth of the unit I2 is the same as that of the first story units [0 and It. When the second stor unit [2 is in properly assembled relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 its inner side wall 28 lies in the same plane as the side wall 23. of the unit I I, the, outer side wall 29 lies in the same plane as' the outer side wall 24 and the. back wall 30 lies in the same plane as the back wall 25. The, overall height of the unlit I3 is less than the inside width' of the second story unit I 2, has an openiront and defines the other outside second story room of the doll house. It, is rectangular or'box lilge and consists of a floor forming bo tom wall '3 ups d n inner'an outer side walls 33 and 34, anupstanding back wall 3 5 and aceiling forming top wall '36. The abutting or adjoining margins of these walls are suitably secured together in order that the second item unit it ie' m Such u i h st m depth and height as the second story unit l2. It is adapted when properly. assembled to overlie andrest on the outerportion of the ceilingforirn. 1 i wan 2|. of the fs st r t. n. when the. unit I3 is, so positioned the. outer side. wall 34 lies in the same plane as the outer side wall I 9 or theunit I0 and theflback wall .35 of the Wit ,3 es in h e anate as. t e k wa 20 of said unit It. By reasonof the factfthat the inside width of th unit 12 is greater than the overall height of unit the unit I3 may, when turned at right angles to the unit [2, he nested into the, ma unit as shown inFi u t The Width of the unit I3. is materiallylesls than. t the nit 1 The, s fen q e as ash s. a ais fe tansu r oxite Q ta a efisar n i e qsm fd- It is ad p -i ed to be interposed between the units I2 and IQ; and when in properly assembled relation defines an e from s d sauna. tor o 'fq the; house. The depth of the. second story unit L4 is the same as the. depth of the ma iner primary second story units 12: and I3, Theunit I4 con; sists of a floor forming bottom wall 37,, upstand:

ns ide s; u stahd sba We -$9..

anda ceiling, for-mi .top. wall EU. The adjoin-i ing or abutting margins of these walls arefsuit b i ns qt wnnw e weathe a'b r hat th uni '14, s ri d. 2 2s. era Wid s th unit I4 is less than the inside width of the unit and [4 of the house.

3| and 36 when the three second story units are in their operative position, and hence there is a space directly over the top wall 40, as shown or illustrated in Figure 2. The combined width of the-three second story units l2, l3 and I4 corresponds to the combined width of the first story unitslflandi2.

The gable forming members l5 are in the form of isosceles triangles and serve when in place to support the gable roof I6 over the three second story rocm'forming units [2, l3 and 14. The lengthof the base or lower edges of the members [5 correspond to the depth of said units. One of the gable forming members I5 is adapted to rest upon the upper outer corner of the second story unit i2 and the other member is adapted to rest on the upper outer corner of the unit l3, as best shownin Figure 2. When the two members are in properly assembled relation one overlies, and lies in the same plane as, the outer side wall 29 of the unit l2 and the other overlies, and lies in the same plane as, the outer side wall 34 of the unit l3. Horizontally elongated blocks 41 are suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the central lower marginal portions of the gable forming members l5 and serve to retain such members in their normal upright position.

The gable roof it comprises four rectangular sections 42, 43, 44 and 45. The sections 42 and 43 are disposed in end to end relation, as shown in Figure 1. They have the abutting margins thereof connected together by a tape variety hinge 46 and together form the front side of the roof. The other two sections, i. e., sections 44 and 45, are arranged in end to end relation and have the adjoining margins thereof connected together with tape variety hinges 41. They form the rear side of the gable roof and have the inner side margins thereof joined to the inner side margins of the sections 42 and 43 by a tape variety hinge 48. The hinges 46, 21 and 48 permit the roof It to be folded lengthwise and crosswise into a quarter size unit in order that it may be readily stored in the aforementioned compartment in the first story unit H) (see Figure 9). The four sections constituting the gable roof are the same in size and are of such combined length and width that the roof when in place has end eaves which extend outwards of the gable forming members i5 and front and rear eaves which overhang the front and rear marginal portions of the top walls of the second story units I2, l3 As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the front and rear eaves or margin of the roof are of such dimensions or depth that they project beneath the ceiling forming top walls of said second story units and cover the front and rear portions of the space that is directly over the unit 14 and results from the fact that the top wall of such unit is at a lower elevation than the top walls of the second story units l2 and I3.

When it is desired to dismantle the doll house the gable roof I8 is first removed and is then folded lengthwise and crosswise. Thereafter the gable forming members l5 are removed from their normal position wherein they rest on the upper outer side corners of the second story unit [2 and I3. After removal of the gable forming member l5 the room forming unit I4 is removed from 6 its normal positionand isthen slid intoinested relation with the unit !3, as shown in Figure 4. After nesting the unit 14 in the unit IS the latter is turned at right angles and is then inserted into nested relation with the unit I2, as shown in Figure 5. Thereafter the unit I2 is turned through a arc and is then inserted into nested rela-v tion with the firststory unit II. After inserting the unit i 2 into nested relation with the unit H the latter is turned at right angles, 1. e., throughout a 90 arc and is then inserted into nested relation with the first story unit i 0. After nesting:

Width Height First story unit 10 First story unit ll Second story unit 12 Second story unit 13 9 Second story unit 14 7 8% The herein described doll house is essentially simple in design and is characterized by the fact that the component parts thereof may be readily assembled and dismantled. It is capable of being produced at a comparatively low cost and when in its dismantled form occupies but a comparatively small space. The assembled doll house is rigid and does not require the use of clips, fasteners or interlocking devices for holding the parts together.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown variety two story, five room, doll house comprising a pair of open front, rigid, box-like room forming units adapted to be placed in side by side and abutting relation and to form the first story of the house and each consisting of fixedly connected bottom, side, back and top walls, and three open front, rigid, box-like room forming units adapted to be placed in side by side and abutting relation and to rest on, and register with, the top walls of, the two first story units and form the second story of the house, having the same combined width as the combined width of the first story units, and each consisting of fixedly connected bottom, side, back and top walZs, said two first story units being the same in height and depth, one of the first story units having its overall width less than the inside height of the other first story unit in order that when it is turned at right angles to said other unit it may be inserted into nested relation with the latter, the outer two second story units being the same in height and depth and corresponding in depth to said first story units, one of the outer second story units being the same in width as said one first '1': storyiunit wider than it is high andor sufiicientl less. height than said one first. story unity that when itis turned at right angles to said one first story unititmay be-inserted into nested relation with the latter, the other outer second story unit being of less width than the one outer second story unit and, adapted when turned at right angles to said one outer second story unit to be inserted into nested relation with the latter, the intermediate second story unit being the same in depth, as the two outer second story units, of less width and height than said other outer second story and adapted to be inserted into nested relation with the latter, said house also comprising a pair of similarly sized gable forming members designed and adapted to rest on, and project upwards from, the top walls of the outer two second story units, andan; elongated separately formed gable roof; adapted to have the ends thereof rest; on 'and be supported by; said gable forming members and consisting of. four similarly sized rectangular, hinged together sections arranged and proportioned so that when the roof is in its proper operative position on the gable forming members the front 2 and rear margins thereof overhang the front and rear marginal portions of the top walls of the three.- second; story unit and cover the front-and.

rear portions of. the space that is directly overthe, top wall of the intermediate second storyof such size that it may be inserted into. said. other first story unit while said one first story unit is in nested relation with the latter.

LENI K. HAMMOND. RICHARD H. STOUT REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record, in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date; 11,386,423 Rapson Aug. '27, 1921 1,845,254 Fancher Feb. 16,1932 2,124,352 Patten July 19, 1938. 2,152,728 Carpenter Apr. 4, 19 9 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 227,149 Germany Oct. 14, 1910' 835,421 France Sept. 19, 1938 

